City of Rockaway Beach: Mayor’s Monthly Update May 1, 2025

By Mayor Charles McNeilly

Welcome to my City of Rockaway Beach Monthly Update with a look back at the month of April 2025.

The 3^rd Annual Rockaway Writers Rendezvous was held the last full weekend of April. I was honored to be a judge for the writing competition and select a student (Trinity Shenk-Williams) entry and an adult (Ann Farley) entry for a Mayor Award. Planning for the 4^th Annual Rockaway Writers Rendezvous is commencing soon.

Preparations for the 4th of July are now underway. The City is now accepting parade applications and will be accepting applications for Volunteer of the Year and Grand Marshal soon. This year’s theme is “Waves of Freedom.”

Volunteering offers significant personal and community benefits, impacting mental and physical well-being, career prospects, and social connections. It provides a sense of purpose, boosts self-esteem, and can improve job prospects. Additionally, volunteering strengthens communities by addressing needs and fostering social cohesion. Volunteerism is strong in Rockaway Beach, and we have the Rockaway Beach Volunteers matching community members with opportunities to make a difference in Rockaway Beach. If you are not on their list of active volunteers, email the Rockaway Beach Volunteer Coordinators at rbvolunteers1@gmail.com. This is truly a win win opportunity!

You may hear about trucks or equipment on the beach near the 600 block of N. Pacific Street over the next few weeks. They will be working to repair rip rap in the area. Oregon Parks and Recreation permitted this activity and has oversight.

City Hall

The City is working on a Ziply Fiber Franchise agreement for high-speed internet in Rockaway Beach.

The City is working with Tillamook County Health Department on a lease extension for their satellite office at City Hall.

Finance Department

The Budget Committee approved the 2025-26 budget, and it now goes to the City Council for consideration and adoption during the May Council meeting.

Finance Director Johnston published the City’s 3^rd Quarter (January – March 2025) Financial Report on the city’s website. The city continues to operate in a fiscally responsible and conservative manner.

Fire Department and Emergency Preparation

The Fire Department was awarded the 2025 Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Staffing Grant for 2025. This will allow the department to hire two seasonal firefighters to assist during the busy summer season.

The Fire Department’s Open House and Easter Egg hunt were very successful. Over 100 citizens enjoyed pancakes and a tour of the fire station. The Easter Egg hunt was well attended, and the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. The Easter Bunny made appearances at both events.

Captain Grace is attending the Timberline Emergency Medical Services (EMS) conference this weekend. Captain Grace will be able to get valuable continuing education credits and receive updated medical procedure information that he can share with the rest of the department.

The Fire Department will be hosting an EMT-Advanced course in cooperation with Tillamook Bay Community College this summer. This class will be offered to 15 students and is the next step towards becoming a paramedic. This class adds IV and medication skills along with more advanced training in medical and trauma treatments.

Chief Hesse and Councilor McGinnis met this week with Jen Warren, who is a Fire Risk Reduction Specialist with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office. The meeting began the process of creating a formal wildfire protection plan for the city.

The Drone pilots in our Fire Department are exploring options to increase our surf rescue capabilities. Modern technology and rescue equipment including automatic inflatable rescue rings and flotation devices are being researched for the upcoming summer season.

Chief Hesse visited with the Insurance Services Office (ISO) and has a meeting scheduled for June 25^th to begin the rating process. ISO is an organization that provides data to insurance companies to help determine fire insurance premiums. He and Captain Grace will begin the paperwork for re-rating. Chief Hesse believes the addition of the new ladder truck and other improvements will reduce many of our residents’ insurance premiums for fire coverage.

The ladder truck project continues to move forward. The ladder and pump have now been installed, and the tank and compartments are next. No official timeline has been proposed, but the salesperson told Chief Hesse to expect about 6 more weeks. The Fire Department is now shifting a portion of their training to prepare for delivery and placing the unit in service.

The Fire Department held its monthly Emergency Preparedness Meeting on the first Wednesday night in April. Tillamook PUD joined us this month for a live demonstration on powerline safety. Attendees were also entered into a raffle for a chance to receive an emergency preparedness prize. Thank you, Captain Grace, for continuing to put together such informative meetings.

Planning Department

Jetty Creek Watershed Acquisition Updates:

Sourcewater Protection Plan Development Advisory Committee voted unanimously to approve draft of Sourcewater Protection Plan. City Council to consider and adopt the plan at the May City Council meeting. The adopted plan will be sent to the Department of Environmental Quality and Oregon Health Authority for their approval.
The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board voted unanimously to fund our Drinking Water Source Protection grant at the full amount requested. It is a $1.25 million award.
City Manager Shepard executed the $70,000 grant agreement with Business Oregon for work related to land appraisal and the development of a Forest Stewardship plan. Work will commence soon after adoption of our new Sourcewater Protection Plan.
In April, Public Works Director Mertz submitted the funding application to the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund. The City Council approved submission through resolution at April’s Council meeting.

Measure 56 notices on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Biological Opinion (BiOp) have been mailed out this week to those with property in the floodplain. Measure 56 notice in Oregon is a notification requirement for landowners when land use laws might restrict their property’s use. Passed in 1998, it mandates that local governments inform landowners of proposed changes to zoning, comprehensive plans, or other land use regulations that could affect their property. The notice must state that the proposed changes may affect the value of the property, even though it doesn’t guarantee they will.

In 2009, the Portland Audubon Society filed a lawsuit to force the FEMA to integrate the Endangered Species Act into their activities. The parties settled in 2010.

FEMA is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the implementation of the plan for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) – Endangered Species Act (ESA) Integration in Oregon.

FEMA was taken to court again and forced to accelerate their requirements with Pre-Implementation Compliance Measures.

Effective December 1, 2024, the regulations for developing in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), commonly known as the “floodplain”, will be changing.
The changes are required by FEMA for jurisdictions that wish to continue to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program
The changes are intended to protect endangered and threatened species and habitat by requiring “no net loss” of habitat functions. Those functions are:
- Flood storage (impacts from placing fill in the floodplain)
- Water quality (impacts from adding new impervious surface in the floodplain that creates pollutant runoff)
- Riparian habitat (impacts from removing vegetation near rivers and streams)
On July 15, 2024, Rockaway Beach was notified that it must choose and implement one of three Pre-Implementation Compliance Measures (PICM). The three options are:
1. Prohibit all new development within the floodplain.
2. Adopt a model ordinance that incorporates the requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) into the County’s floodplain code
3. Require applicants on a permit-by-permit basis to prepare a Habitat Assessment to verify that no net loss of floodplain functions will occur as part of their proposed development

If we do not cooperate with FEMA, City of Rockaway Beach residents in the floodplain will no longer be able to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program putting their mortgage at risk. FEMA will also not help us in the event of a flood disaster.

City Council chose option 2 – Adopt a model ordinance that incorporates the requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) into the City’s floodplain code which triggered the Measure 56 notices. The Measure 56 notice and the proposed zoning code changes can be found on the Community Development page of the city’s website.

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission covered the following at their April meeting:

PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration to Approve Proposed Amendments to the Rockaway Beach Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan Related to Middle Housing, and Recommend their Adoption to the City Council – one resident provided oral testimony.
Review of Draft Code Amendments providing Exception to STR Cap for Accessible Short-Term Rentals – recommendation to send to council for review and approval.
Review of Large Community Grant Applications – Funding requests exceeded funding available. After discussion, the Planning Commission recommended funding the three highest ranked applications.

Public Works

Public Works constructed a new ADA parking stall adjacent to the Wayside Restrooms. With this done, the Wayside Beach access project is now officially complete. Nice job Public Works!

We have great news about the High School/Middle School lighting project. Neah-Kah-Nie School District Superintendent Tyler Reed was able to find funding to cover the installation costs for the new lights. Public Works Superintendent Emerson will arrange installation with the TPUD. Rockaway Beach will be the account holder for the new lights and cover the small monthly service fee. Nicely done Superintendents Reed and Emerson!

Public Works have been busy taking care of our community:

Installed memorial bench at NW 16^th for the Tichenor family.
Painted no parking area and prepped Lions Club wagon site near Wayside.
City Manager Shepard and Superintendent Emerson attended Tillamook People’s Utility District Community Partners Luncheon on 4/22 to discuss regional power supply and resource adequacy.
Upgraded biobag system waste piping at the sewer plant.
Completed annual fire extinguisher checks and City Hall fire suppression inspection.
Purchased two new benches for the Old Growth Cedar boardwalk – installation coming soon.
Worked with Department of Environmental Quality to complete funding authorization forms for Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) implementation.

Public Works continue to remove graffiti in Rockaway Beach. If you see graffiti/tagging in Rockaway Beach, please let City Hall know so Public Works can remove it.

Public Works Director Mary Mertz submitted our Transportation and Growth Management pre-application in April. This is the first step in the application process as we seek to secure funding to update the City’s Transportation System Plan. Our Transportation System Plan will be a long-range planning document that will guide our transportation policies and investments over a 20-year period.

Staffing update: Caleb Smith (Plant Operator) and Tanner Kowalski (Utility Worker) have moved on; we wish them the best. New hires Tristan Silveira (Plant Operator) and Jesse Eagleton (Utility Worker) are off to a great start, both completed their first month.

City Council

We are now accepting applications for the seat vacated by Alesia Franken. The appointee’s term of office will run until the first Council meeting in January 2027. To be qualified for office, a person must have been registered to vote and resided within Rockaway Beach City Limits for twelve continuous months immediately preceding the appointment and remain so during the term of office to which appointed. Applications may be picked up at Rockaway Beach City Hall, 276 South Highway 101 or online at corb.us/city-council. The deadline for submitting applications is May 30, 2025. The City Council will review the applications and select the top three applicants for interviews at a public meeting. Upon completion of the interviews the City Council will appoint an applicant to fill the vacant Council position.

At the April Workshop we discussed the following topics:

Review of Small Community Grant Recommendations
Review of Sustainable Northwest Memo Regarding Next Steps Towards Acquisition and Management of Jetty Creek Watershed – Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF)
Review of Draft Revisions to City Council Rules & Procedures

At the April Regular Session:

Presentation – School District Operational Levy – Tyler Reed, Neah-Kah-Nie School District
Consideration of Resolution 2025-15 Approving Awards for the 2024-2025 Small Community Grant Program (APPROVED AS AMENDED). Award payments have been made.

Recipient & Event/Project	Grant Amount:
Tillamook County Developmental Disabilities 3^rd Annual Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Picnic	$ 1,000.00
Rockaway Beach Business Association Fundraiser projects	$ 4,999.00
Friends of Rockaway Beach Library Entrance railing & Square device	$ 1,864.00
Neah-Kah-Nie Coast Arts Music & Cultural Foundation 3^rd Annual Writers Rendezvous	$ 4,999.00
International Police Museum Community Room furniture, displays & storage	$ 4,931.58

Consideration of Resolution 2025-16 Approving Revised Wayside Use Application for the Nea-Kah-Nie Cultural Arts & Music Foundation Music Festival (APPROVED)
Consideration of Resolution 2025-17 Authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to Execute a Contract with the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder for the Primary Sludge & Trickling Filter Pump Replacement Project (APPROVED)
Consideration of Resolution 2025-18 Authorizing the City of Rockaway Beach to Apply for a Funding Package from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program and Authorizing the City Manager to Sign the Application (APPROVED).
Near the end of the meeting, we received word that Councilor Franken was stepping down from her position effective immediately. The City Council moved to declare her position vacant (APPROVED). Councilors and I expressed our deepest appreciation for the work Alesia Franken did on behalf of our city and wished her well.

If any of the Council activities listed for April are of interest, you can read the meeting materials and view recordings of all Council meetings (except Executive Sessions) on the City Council page.

Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (TCVA)

We had an over 43% increase in the number of users of Rockaway Beach’s official visitor website visitrockawaybeach.org.

Here are some of the promotions planned:

SeaLegs Media will be filming Memorial Day and the day after, including an interview with the mayor
Oregon Coast Today will have a featured article in early May on Rockaway Beach’s accessibility improvements
TCVA will be producing a summer events e-newsletter
TCVA is contacting birding groups about a possible “Birding and the Beach” event in Rockaway Beach.

Key Dates in May for Community Engagement

May 14 City Council Workshop and Regular Meeting
May 17 Planning Commission Meeting
May 24 Coffee with Mayor and City Manager

Please stay informed and engaged!

The most efficient way to keep up to date with your city government is to add your email address to the City’s email list through the City’s website, at the bottom of the landing page.